I need a good reason (not involving shame or hiding the past) that a stand-up husband of 14 years would disappear, then reappear after 6 months, still in love with his wife, but offering no explanations.
nanowrimodtr
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Blessed Writing!
| nanowrimodtr | Why would someone disappear? |
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Joined: Oct 4, 2008
Location: IN Posts: 17
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Oct 11, 2008 - 06 51 |
I need a good reason (not involving shame or hiding the past) that a stand-up husband of 14 years would disappear, then reappear after 6 months, still in love with his wife, but offering no explanations. nanowrimodtr |
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Oct 11, 2008 - 09 49
kidnapped? Weird bout of amnesia - so he doesn't realize 6 months have passed?
39,258 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2008 - 12 47
A fugue state brought on by stress, but the stress would have to be pretty serious. Even if he's sent somewhere by his job, there's at least going to be some sort of cover story so that she doesn't ask questions.
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Oct 11, 2008 - 14 36
So you dont want shame or hiding the past. If the guy is a policeman then it may be that he found out someone was in trouble and had to help. Government agent: maybe he had to go on a 6 month training session and was not allowed to discuss it. I think it is important to understand what you have in mind for him? Why does he have to leave for 6 months? What kind of story are you planning?
If you want to use a mythical idea then in Japanese culture there are fox spirits: Kitsune who lure men away from their family and they return later.
28,388 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2008 - 03 51
Perhaps some sort of metal breakdown?
Still going with the amesia idea of not knowing 6 months have passed.
Perhaps it was work stress or some other unrelated occurence, death of a family memeber or mental trauma.
I don't know, I hope that was helpful :D
15,036 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2008 - 08 07
Here are a couple of suggestions:
1. He had to fulfill a promise made prior to meeting his wife. It must have involved utmost secrecy and it took longer than he expected?
2. He received an emergency call from a friend in need. The rescue required secrecy to protect his wife and family and took longer than expected.
3. He received an opportunity that could not be ignored, but it required secrecy and absence to complete for some kind of reward that he felt would outweigh the pain of his absence.
Just a couple I could think of off the top of my head.
Good luck!
40,818 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2008 - 12 58
He needs to go into hiding for a temporary but embarrassing medical condition (an STD, say) that he needs to get treated for but doesn't want to reveal to his family. He stays away long enough to make certain the treatment has been successful. But even if he thinks he's successfully dealt with the situation, there's always blackmail.
Or perhaps you could try the classic, Martin Guerre-esque tack: the man who returns isn't really the husband at all - just someone who looks like him and wants to take over his identity!
10,773 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2008 - 16 55
If I were writing this, I would ask myself a few question, such as:
Did he disappear of his own volition, or was he taken?
If he choose to leave, did he intend to return from the outset, or did he change his mind?
Did he act alone, or in league with others?
Was he looking to gain something?
Was he looking to lose something?
If he was taken -- does he have something someone else wants? Or is HE something someone else wants?
Did he escape, or did they let him go?
28,649 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2008 - 05 07
Great questions! I'm a homeschooling mom, and I'm teaching my dd how to write using Institute for Excellence in Writing. The author says creative writing is about taking notes "from the brain" (As opposed to nonfiction, where you take notes from research) How do you do that? Ask questions. Yours will take me in some interesting directions. Thanks. I think I'll sit down and interview my character!
nanowrimodtr